As lawmakers in Annapolis continue to debate energy solutions, residents have voiced frustration over mounting energy bills.

Since the beginning of the year, Baltimore Gas and Electric customers across the Baltimore region and surrounding counties have reported energy bills with massive increases compared to previous years — some bills, like Dallas Royer’s, are more than $1,200.

“It’s worse than feeling stuck because I have my stepson that comes every other weekend,” said Royer, a Baltimore County resident. So it’s not just, you know, if the energy gets cut off, it’s not just like me being affected.”

Royer said she works for a food delivery service to make more money to pay the bill.

“I try not to think about it, but it literally just comes in my head, like any time that I turn a light on, I feel guilty. I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s just everything I do. It’s like, do I really need to wash these clothes right now?” she added.

Other residents, like Curt Howard in Harford County, said their bill doubled.

“I’ve tried to limit my usage as much as I could to keep my bill low, and then when it comes back twice as much as I spent last year,” Howard said.

In addition to colder weather, some of the increased cost comes from recent BGE rate hikes, which will help fund upgraded energy infrastructure needs, especially when it comes to aging natural gas infrastructure.

In a previous statement, a BGE spokesperson said, “BGE’s distribution rates, which are reviewed and approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, reflect the major investments in BGE’s energy infrastructure that are vital for the continued safe and reliable delivery of energy to our customers. This work also lays the foundation for the State of Maryland to be able to meet its goal of net-zero emissions by 2045. In addition to directly benefiting customers, BGE’s investments in the electric and natural gas systems power a vital economic engine in central Maryland.”

BGE has also made it clear there are several rising charges reflected on the energy bills they do not control, like the Empower MD charge, which is a state policy related to funding programs and incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They also don’t control the price of energy.

While residents in other surrounding states like Pennsylvania and Virginia are largely paying less for energy, some lawmakers have pointed to state policies leading to higher energy prices in Maryland. Especially with growing energy demands, state energy officials have acknowledged renewable sources alone are not enough to meet energy needs. With fossil fuel plants closing and the state not generating enough energy, state lawmakers are trying to find a solution during this session.

However, in the meantime, residents with high bills said they are caught in the middle.

“It’s unacceptable they did this to us,” Howard said.

Have a news tip? Contact reporter Jessica Babb at jessicababb@sbgtv.com.